Di Blasi Industriale is an Italian manufacturer of

folding bicycle A folding bicycle is a bicycle designed to fold into a compact form, facilitating transport and storage. When folded, the bikes can be more easily carried into buildings, on public transportation (facilitating mixed-mode commuting and bicycl ...

tricycle A tricycle, sometimes abbreviated to trike, is a human-powered (or gasoline or electric motor powered or assisted, or gravity powered) three-wheeled vehicle. Some tricycles, such as cycle rickshaws (for passenger transport) and freight trikes, ...

moped A moped ( ) is a type of small motorcycle, generally having a less stringent licensing requirement than full motorcycles or automobiles. The term used to mean a similar vehicle except with both bicycle pedals and a motorcycle engine. Mopeds typic ...

s and scooter based in

Vizzini Vizzini is a town and ''comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Catania, on the island of Sicily, southern Italy. It is located from Catania in the Hyblaean Mountains, on the most northwesterly slopes of Monte Lauro. The commune territory is b ...

Sicily (man) it, Siciliana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = Ethnicity , demographics1_footnotes = , demographi ...

. The company's products are suitable for being transported by car, boat, or airplane, and are designed and manufactured entirely in-house.

History

The founder of the company, Rosario Di Blasi, began development of a folding scooter in 1952, which by 1968 had evolved into a Zanetti-powered folding tricycle called the DIBLA 7 that was shown at the

Turin Auto Show The Turin Motor Show ( it, Salone dell'Automobile di Torino) was an auto show held annually in Turin, Italy. The first official show took place between 21 and 24 April 1900, at the Castle of Valentino, becoming a permanent fixture in Turin from ...

as a prototype. Finally in 1974 Di Blasi began production of a folding moped with a Franco Morini motor and single-speed transmission called the R2 (also known as the "Paperino"). In 1979 the model R7 replaced the R2 and featured an engine of Di Blasi's own design as well as a multi-speed transmission. This moped has been continuously improved and is still in production as the R7E. It has been used by the Polizia Stradale, the Traffic Police division of the Italian National Police, aboard their helicopters. The R7 is sold by Di Blasi of America as the "Express." It is also used worldwide by a number of different "chauffeur" companies, who will drive it to meet the customer, fold it up and put it in the trunk of their car, and drive the customer wherever they need to go, such as home from a bar or party. One such company, Superbob, serves part of the Netherlands. In the southern US, Zingo Transportation provides this service. In Australia the Di Blasi R7 has been imported, sold and run as part of their designated chauffeur service b
Scoot2you Personal Chauffeurs
originally on the Gold Coast and then in Brisbane and Melbourne and shortly in Sydney as part of their growing Franchise. Also in 1974, the company introduced a folding bicycle called the Avia. The model Avia is notable for having featured the first folding pedals ever developed. The Avia evolved into the model R20 (1980), R50 (1984), R6 (1991), R4 (1995), R5, R21 (20-inch wheels), R24, and the R22. This bicycle series has characteristically been one of the most compact and easily folding bicycles on the market. The company has also has been producing folding adult tricycles since 2000: the model R32 and the electric version mod. R34. Since 2012 Di Blasi has been producing a mobility electric scooter, mod. R30, that folds fully automatically at the press of a button. Target segment of the above vehicles are adults and people with minor mobility problems.

References

External links

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Electric Mobility scooter R30
{{Folding bicycles Tricycles Moped manufacturers Cycle manufacturers of Italy Motorcycle manufacturers of Italy Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1974 Italian brands Folding bicycles Scooter manufacturers Italian companies established in 1974 Companies based in Sicily

History

See also

References

External links